Zinc may shorten the common cold by about one day

[somone]

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-he-zinc-colds-20110216,0,2535294.story

Zinc found to be effective in treating colds
An evaluation of 15 studies concludes that zinc lozenges, tablets or syrup can help cut the duration of cold symptoms by a day and reduce their severity. But the debate on the subject is far from over.
By Shari Roan, Los Angeles Times

People who begin using zinc lozenges, tablets or syrup at the first signs of a cold are more likely to get well faster, researchers reported Tuesday. But the new findings probably won't be the last word on the issue, which has been the subject of debate since the idea was first proposed in 1984.

Since that time, 18 studies have examined zinc in preventing or treating colds. Some found zinc supplements were modestly helpful, others failed to turn up any benefits. One analysis of 14 studies, published in 2007, concluded that many of the studies were too flawed to draw any conclusions. In the latest report, published by the Cochrane Library, an international network of experts who conduct systematic reviews of research, scientists in India evaluated 15 studies, including four published since 2000.

Two of the studies evaluated focused on zinc's effectiveness in preventing colds and the rest on its ability to shorten the duration of colds. The 15 studies involved 1,360 participants ranging in age from 1 to 65 with good overall health. Pooling the data, researchers found that people who took zinc within 24 hours of the start of symptoms were over their colds about one day sooner than people who took placebos. The analysis also found that the severity of cold symptoms was somewhat milder among people who took zinc.

Whether these results will be considered meaningful depends on whom you ask, said Dr. Kay Dickersin, a professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University's Bloomberg School of Public Health and director of the U.S. Cochrane Center, one of the 12 centers around the world that facilitate the work of the Cochrane reviews. Dickersin was not involved in the research. "I might say, 'A day less of symptoms is good; I'll do it.' But you might say, 'A day is nothing; it's not worth driving to the drugstore,' " she said...

[elleng]

1. Nothing new here, I think.

[Tunkamerica]

2. And the study wouldn't rec. a form or dosage... (I just heard this story on the radio)

[charlie]

3. Stay away from nasal sprays

Some years ago a company called Zicam sold a zinc preparation in spray and gel form that destroyed the sense of smell of over a hundred users.

Unfortunately, because it was marketed as a homeopathic product, it fell outside the FDA's purview and wasn't subject to government review before release.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31388177/ns/health-cold_and_flu

[laconicsax]

4. That's another great example of why supplements need to be regulated. n/t

[Towlie]

5. I still recommend staying away from Zicam. It's claimed to be "homeopathic" but...

... even the woo woo http://www.homeopathic.org/content/zicam-is-not-homeopathy">homeopathy wackos criticize Zicam because:

The manufacturers of Zicam have simply adopted homeopathic nomenclature as a deceptive way to market a 10% solution of zinc gluconate without FDA oversight.

In other words, by calling their product "homeopathic", Zicam exploits a perverse law that exempts homeopathic "medicine" from government oversight, even though their product doesn't really meet the definition of homeopathic medicine.

Zicam is also not prepared like a true homeopathic remedy. Zicam’s labeling is misleading, claiming to be a “homeopathic preparation” of “1x potency” but in reality it is simply a 10% solution of zinc gluconate. Typical homeopathic remedies are much, much more dilute, often so dilute there are no molecules of the original substance left.

To sell actual homeopathic products to gullible people is bad enough, but to make the false claim that Zicam does in order to exploit a bizarre legal loophole is truly beneath contempt.